COMPETENCE GAME – DEVELOPING COMPANY’S CRITICAL COMPETENCIES THROUGH COLLEAGUE FEEDBACK
Competence game’s game technique is unique. A trustworthy structure is created with the game, where each participant can give each other feedback (strengths & constructive feedback) from pre-determined competencies relevant to the organisation/team.
During the game workshop there is typically five different competence areas, from which each participant will get feedback from his/her peers and everyone gets to evaluate oneself as well. Game challenges to true self-reflection and teaches to go through constructive and analysing conversation and discussion on oneself and others’ capabilities. When there are the organisation competencies in questions through what the competitiveness is defined, it is important that the discussion will be collegial.
At the end of the game workshop each participant recognises the most important competence area where he/she wants to develop in. To this area a desired state is set and steps to reach it. Objectives and plans are at their best public and they are followed through a questionnaire that is part of the process. Typically personal goals are visible in the organisation on a poster or whiteboard.
Realisation and the successes of personal objectives are divided in the ‘after game’ event about 4 to 6 months after the competence game workshop, and the ones who tried their best or succeeded people will be rewarded. The goals can also be attached to the organisation’s rewarding system, which supports the developing and individuals really try to succeed in their goals.
Game offers a safe structure to hear positive and constructive feedback from peers about own ways of working and helps to recognise own strengths and improvement areas with self-reflection and feedback. Additionally, the game works as effective way to practice giving feedback and receiving it intensively during one workshop.
Here are a few examples on the competence areas used in the game:
The competencies can arise from strategy, can be crucial to the functioning of the area in the organisation or they can describe the core know-how of leadership, managerial job or team work/work community. Competencies are planned and described always together with the customer in the planning phase of the game.